Electric car makers are advertising exaggerated vehicle ranges because the official testing regime does not accurately reflect real-world use, a large-scale study has found.
Independent testing of more than 70 electric vehicles shows that their actual range is nearly 20 per cent less on average than the figures put in manufacturers’ websites. That means an electric car claiming that it can go 240 miles is likely to achieve less than 200 miles before running out of power.
The testing, by the consumer group Which?, also found that the average electric car battery needs 15 per cent more power than advertised to become fully charged, meaning vehicles will cost more to run than expected.
The consumer group urged anyone thinking of buying a new electric car to be “sceptical” of the official range and conduct “rigorous” research before purchasing.
The results come just days after the government announced that car makers will have to ensure 22 per cent of their sales next year are electric, rising to 28 per cent by 2025.
Petrol and diesel cars are set to be banned from sale entirely by 2030. Electric cars currently account for about 16.6 per cent of sales.
Emily Seymour, the sustainability editor at Which?, said: “Our research suggests electric vehicle drivers could end up being disappointed by the distance they can realistically cover on a single charge.
“The electric cars in our tests fall on average 45 miles short of official figures, meaning owners will have to charge more frequently. This will have a greater impact on those who regularly drive long distances or cannot charge at home.”
She added: “If you are in the market for an electric car, be sceptical of the official range as they don’t always reflect real-world driving conditions and be sure to read independent and rigorous reviews before buying.”
Since 2017, electric car makers have used the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) to establish vehicle range. The tests are conducted in laboratories and use conditions defined by European Union law. The new regime was introduced after the old test was criticised for exaggerating the economy of petrol and diesel vehicles.
Which? says the new test provides “more realistic” results for fuel-based cars but believes it has a “strong tendency to overstate the efficiency and subsequent range of electric vehicles”. It says its own testing has a more demanding high-speed motorway cycle that it believes better represents real-world driving.
Electric cars usually achieve fewer miles on dual carriageways and motorways because of the higher energy consumption required for faster driving, but also because of the reduced opportunity for energy to be put back into the battery when breaking.
Hugh Bladon, of the Alliance of British Drivers, which is campaigning for the government to reverse the 2030 ban on petrol and engine engines, said: “The difference between the advertised range and what can actually be achieved applies to petrol and diesel cars as well but it seems to be even worse for electric cars. But range is not the only problem with these cars. There is also the availability of charging points and the steady loss of charge while stationary.”
He added: “The government has just confirmed the UK is sticking to the 2030 deadline, as opposed to the 2035 for the EU. Ministers may find people start buying their next car in the Irish Republic.”
However, Callum Russell, of Chargingathome.co.uk, an advice website for electric car buyers, does not believe that people will be deterred. He said: “These figures are dreadful, and the industry needs to be more transparent with consumers, but I don’t think buyers will be put off because of the price of petrol and diesel and what it does to the planet.”
The testing by Which? found that larger electric cars performed the worst, delivering an average of 56 fewer miles than advertised while needing 11.5 kilowatt hours (kWh) more power than claimed to charge.
This means a buyer of a large electric car might be led to believe they could travel from London to Carlisle on a single charge at a cost of about £25 but they would actually run out of power well before getting there and the journey would be significantly more expensive because of the need to use a road-side charger, which can cost up to six times more than domestic tariffs.
The Tesla Model Y, Britain’s most popular electric car, had a 100-mile difference between advertised range and that achieved in real-world conditions
Which? testing shows that the Tesla Model Y, which is the most popular electric car in Britain, has one of the greatest differences between advertised range and that achieved in real-world conditions. The Tesla website reports that the Model Y can go up to 331 miles on a single charge but Which? found it went a maximum of 231 miles.
Nissan, meanwhile, states its electric Leaf model can achieve “up to 239 miles”. However, the small print explains that this figure “does not refer to a particular individual vehicle and does not constitute part of the offer”. It adds that range is shown only for “comparability purposes” and that “actual real-world driving results may vary depending on factors such as the starting charge of the battery, accessories fitted after registration, weather conditions, driving styles and vehicle load.”
Which? found the car went a maximum of 187 miles.
James Court, of the Electric Vehicle Association, a members group for electric car drivers, says there can be wide variations in the performance.
“There are definitely large cars that are more efficient and some that, especially in colder conditions, lose more range than others. A lot of that is to do with the design and the quality of the car. But it’s worth remembering that many are first models and they are only going to get better and more efficient over time. Manufacturers have had 100 years perfecting the internal combustion engine.”
Nissan said: “WLTP testing is mandatory and the only universal range figure quoted by all manufacturers. It is used by consumers to compare the range of different models. We have a real-world range calculator easily available on our website where customers can adjust parameters to view accurate and realistic range figures based on their individual circumstances.”
Tesla did not respond to the request to comment but it has previously questioned the reliability of independent testing, saying truly comparative results can only be achieved under lab conditions.
Mike Hawes, of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said: “By law, manufacturers are required to test all vehicles to the same, repeatable official standard — the WLTP Test. This test is regulated by government authorities and it is these results — and only these results — that manufacturers are required by law to publish. There will, however, always be a difference between lab tests and real-world use. Battery range, for instance, like fuel economy on petrol and diesel vehicles, will vary depending on the type of journey made, the conditions, driving style, vehicle load and other factors.”
The government has given manufacturers targets for the proportion of electric vehicles they should sell in the coming years
What is being advertised?
Top five bestselling electric cars (models sold in 2022)
1 Tesla Model Y (35,551)
Advertised range: 331 miles
Tested range: 231 miles
2 Tesla Model 3 (19,701)
Advertised range: 374
Tested range: 260 miles
3 Kia Niro (11,197)
Advertised range: 285 miles
Estimated range: 165-350 miles*
4 Volkswagen ID.3 (9,832)
Advertised range: 265
Tested range: 209
5 Nissan Leaf (9,178)
Advertised range: 239
Tested range: 187
*Estimated range comes from the EV Database
Case study
Driving an electric vehicle feels like a trip back to the Seventies, one buyer has said (Poppy Koronka writes).
Margot Swift, a retired university lecturer, said she and her partner switched back to a petrol car from electric after only a year. In colder weather the battery would be less effective, leading her to turn off the radio to save power.
“The range was nothing like we expected, especially in the cold of winter when we couldn’t use the heater or the radio or drive at 70mph, on even a moderate journey,” Swift, 63, said. “It was like rolling the clock back to driving in the 1970s. A 250-mile trip to visit family, from Yorkshire to East Sussex, required two top-ups.” The car, she said, was meant to run for 219 miles on a single charge.
Despite her experience, Swift hoped that electric vehicles would catch up with the realities of driving in Britain.
“We’d love to go back to EV driving but not until the range is more able to cope with the real world — at least 300 miles for motorway driving,” she said.
Source: The Times
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